2009 Hannspree World SuperBike Championship Round 8, Misano, San Marino, June 21st Race Report
SPIES AND REA TAKE A WIN APIECE AT MISANO
Sterilgarda Yamaha World Superbike rider Ben Spies and Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Johnny Rea both took wins in a memorable day of racing for round eight of the Hannspree World Superbike Championship at the Misano circuit in Italy. In front of 65,000 spectators Spies took his eighth win of the season, while Rea took his maiden win in race two. The Ducati duo of Michel Fabrizio and Nori Haga took second and third in both races as the Japanese star has now extended his points lead over the American Spies to 48 and 55 over his team-mate Fabrizio.
Race One. Ben Spies took his first win of the day, heldd in flag-to-flag conditions, which saw the riders starting on a wet track but taking the flag in the dry. Half-way through the 24-lap race, which ad been totally dominated by Sterilgarda Ducati rider Shane "Shakey" Byrne, the entire field started to pit to change their bikes and tyres. Ben Spies was the rider that judged things to perfection, the Texan immediately finding the right pace in the dry went onto win by almost 8 seconds ahead of Shane Byrne. Third place saw a fantastic scrap between Guandalini Racing Ducati's Jakub Smrz and Ducati Xerox's Michel Fabrizio who just pipped Smrz on the line for the final spot on the podium. Fifth place went to Haga, who limited the damge on a track which is not one of his favorites, the Japanese rider passing his compatriot Brux Alastare Suzuki's Yukio Kagayama in the final stages. Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider Johnny Rea took sixth ahead of compatriot Sterilgarda Yamaha World Superbike's Tom Sykes, ninth Aprilia Racing Shinya Nakano with Honda Althea new replacement rider Matthieu Lagrive in tenth.
Race Two. The second Superbike race saw talented young Brit Johnny Rea take his maiden win after a spectacular scrap win Fabrizio the set the last few laps of the race alight. The final podium place went to points leader Haga, who took advantage of Spies' second lap mishap, the Texan only managing ninth slowed by a clutch issue. Smrz picked up another fourth place after passing Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Carlos Checa on the final laps as the Spanish rider's tyres went off. Byrne was once again up amongst the front-runners again and finished the race in sixth place. The first of the Sterilgarda Yamaha R 1's home was Tom Sykes ahead of compatriot Stiggy Racing Honda's Leon Haslam with Ben Spies in ninth and Aprilia's Max Biaggi in tenth.
WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP.
Yamaha World Supersport rider Cal Crutchlow got the better of Parkalgar Honda's Eugene Laverty in an epic Supersport clash at Misano. The points leader just had the edge in the two-part race, which was red-flagged due to oil on the track, beating his rival in a sprint to the line. With his third win of the season Crutchlow has a 14 point lead over Laverty, and the fight now looks to be between these two as Hansspree Ten Kate Honda rider Kenan Sofuoglu picked up a DNF with a crash, while running third. The Dutch teams forgettable weekend was completed with a crash for Andrew Pitt, while the Australian was leading in the early stages. Intermoto Czech Honda rider Missamo Roccoli rode a great race to take third on a track where he won in 2006.
